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!

Beartooth by Callan Wink is a striking novel that masterfully explores themes of isolation, loneliness, and the lengths to which people will go to survive. Through beautifully crafted prose, Wink delves into the human experience, examining how financial pressures, strained family dynamics, and fear of failure shape our decisions and actions.

Wink's vivid descriptions of the natural world are particularly compelling, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the novel's setting. The surrounding wildlife and landscapes are so expertly portrayed that you can almost smell the pine trees, feel the cold river water, and hear the rustle of animals in the underbrush. This attention to detail not only enhances the reading experience but also underscores the novel's exploration of humanity's connection to nature.

The family dynamics are another standout aspect of the novel. Wink captures the complexities of familial relationships with a nuanced and empathetic touch, making them one of the most engaging elements of the story.

However, while Beartooth excels in many areas, the choice of genre is questionable. Marketed as a thriller, the novel feels more like a contemplative mystery. The tension and suspense typically associated with thrillers are muted, leading to a slower, more reflective narrative pace. While this isn’t necessarily a flaw, readers expecting a fast-paced thriller might be left disappointed.

Overall, Beartooth is a deeply evocative novel that offers a poignant look at survival in its many forms. Though its classification as a thriller may be misleading, its strengths in prose, setting, and character dynamics make it a worthwhile read.

I was excited to read this book based on the plot summary. Unfortunately, it missed the mark. I recently read another novel about a bond between brothers: The Survivors, by Alex Shulman. This was a much more interesting read and did a great job of bringing you into the family plot and caring for the brothers' lives and struggles.

Beartooth did a good job of introducing Thad and Hazen and getting you interested in their bond at first. You feel the tension between the two brothers, and get wrapped in the idea that Thad might be more level-headed, and Hazen may be a bit slow-minded. However, as the story progresses, I did not enjoy the pacing. The first 50% of the novel focuses on the brothers and a vague idea of a job Hazen wants to take which Thad doesn't, due to its potentially dangerous nature. Suddenly, they take the job and a short number of pages quickly blows through the progress of said job, without much detail or sense of danger. Then the novel quickly wraps up with a sudden ending and no real feeling of conclusiveness.

It was a highly unsatisfactory ending which left me feeling like I wasted my time investing any amount of energy in the story of these two brothers. I don't know what I just read because it felt incomplete. I can't really get into much more than that without giving away plot spoilers, but this book was highly lacking in plot development because it focused too much on character development. If you want a bond-between-brothers story, go with The Survivors by Alex Shulman. This just wasn't it for me.

This was a character driven, coming of age novel. This is not my typical read, but I loved it!! I loved the characters, and the writing style. I would absolutely recommend, all the stars!!!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Two brothers, young men, orphaned by their father and frequently abandoned by their mother, are struggling to get by and live off their land. Add a shadowy crime boss of sorts and colorful mountain neighbors and the tale of their coming of age becomes more interesting.

Wink paints a really magnificent portrait of the back country lifestyle, brotherhood, and environmental greed. The imagery is beautiful; the author has an innate ability to describe wildness in a way that makes it familiar. The writing itself flowed and kept me turning the pages quickly. The narrative itself is structured together in a very smart way--the foreshadowing (Thad falling asleep to a logging documentary and then using that idea for their scavenging) and ongoing metaphoric patterns (Hazen lighting the tree on fire and then getting lost in the wildfires) was really appreciated. I thought the ending was somewhat abrupt, but perhaps that speaks of the finality of Thad's loneliness (or even his willingness to move on). Overall, the story was gripping and the writing was enticing; I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an adventurous/mysterious read.

“He realized for the first time that acute aloneness has something of a presence. His lonely was dark as a shadow, and it sat there drinking coffee with him, a silent companion.”

The first thing I will mention about this book is how beautiful the writing is. It was so descriptive and painted the picture of this landscape so beautifully. You could almost hear the sounds of the woods, the chirps of the birds, and could feel the turning of the seasons as this story progressed.

This was definitely a story centered on the characters, especially the relationship of the two brothers, Thad and Hazen. This was a deep story of a bond between two brothers who faced so much hardship and how they came together, and sometimes fell apart, in the midst of survival after their father’s death and their mother’s absence. It was a story of evolution as the seasons changed and chaos surrounded their home. I loved exploring this bond and what became of the brothers in the face of adversity.

I will say, sometimes the descriptive writing took away from the plot and could’ve been cut down in some areas, but it wasn’t a major dislike for me. It just made the story drag in some areas, and for a book that was so short, it stretched the story longer than I felt was necessary. I did feel the plot was a little unfinished but overall, I thought this was a beautiful read. I really enjoyed the authors writing and look forward to picking up more from him in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was so beautifully written that I felt I could smell the air in the canyons. I felt this was more character study than plot driven and it was a book to just curl up with and revel in.

"The smell of a bear, Thad thought, had the flavor of nightmare about it," this quote alone was enough to draw me into the world of brothers Thad and Hazen in the woods of Montana. While grieving the loss of their father, the brothers struggle to make enough money to keep their family home and legacy alive. All hope seems lost, until they meet a Scottish thug and his younger female companion, offering them a way out of debt. While the gig is risky, Thad, being the voice of reason, devises a plan to keep him and his reckless younger brother out of trouble in more ways than one.

I was captivated by the vivid details of the Montana wilderness that Callan captures in his writing. You can really see, smell, and taste the vast expanse of Yellowstone through the eyes of the characters. I also appreciated the grit and determination of the brothers to keep one another safe, and the delicate and complicated relationship with their mom, Sacajawea.

I only wish there was a tidier ending to the business with the Scot, as it seemed to be such an integral part of the story. The ending felt a little unfinished, but that may have been intentional so the reader could infer or choose their own conclusion. Overall though, I really enjoyed this read. 4/5 stars.

Callan Wink introduces his reader to a pair of brothers, Thad and Hazen, in his novel Beartooth—forever indebted to each other yet unable to find their footing after the sudden death of their father. The pair live a hard existence, relying on the natural bounty of the Montana wilderness to make it. One day they are approached by an out-of-towner who proposes a bank heist where their financial woes would be solved.

Beartooth is a medium paced tale with moments of surprising prose set in the beauty of the American West. This is a bracing, masterful novel about survival, revenge, and the bond between brothers.

The beautifully descriptive writing puts you right in the middle of the wilds of Montana. I could smell the river, the wildlife, and was right there in the Cottonwoods in the Fall!

This book is a transcends you into the importance of brotherhood, the beauty of nature, and individuals who risk everything for each other.

Thank you so much to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved all the descriptions of nature, it really felt like I was there, and it made for a very atmospheric read.

Plot wise I felt it lacked a little, or maybe it's just more of a character study, I definitely liked Thad and the way he thought about his family, life, and towards the end, his future.

Perfect book for a winter's evening, in front of a fire.

Appreciation to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for access to this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Want to get lost in the Montana mountains? Enjoy a Wes Anderson-esque journey with two brothers who are lost in the wake of the death of their father and although ripe with survival skills, lack social skills. You'll feel the heat from the guts of a bear being processed in the woods, the fear of being in a national forest at night, and the dangerously slow passing of the seasons in a harsh climate.

Through the lens of the elder brother you get to know a unique family of characters who all are dealing with grief in their own way, but struggle to communicate. He takes on the duty of provider for his younger brother and you watch as it slowly takes a toll on not only his mental health, but physical body. As the brothers plot to provide for themselves and fulfill their basic needs, their plans fall apart, keeping you intrigued to see what else can possibly go wrong.

** spoiler alert ** Thank you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Beartooth in exchange for review.

3.5 stars

After reading the synopsis I was so excited when I got approved for this book. I want to live off the grid in the forest I want a heist.

But to be honest the heist was over much faster than I anticipated or hoped for. Just over halfway and what felt like the main event was done with. It felt like the rest of the story mostly meandered. I liked the opening up of family and how Sacajawea became more understandable after explaining some background Thad hadn’t known. I love a good family drama. From the synopsis I thought Hazen would be more strange than he actually was. They were just normal brothers who sometimes bickered.

I finished this book being very confused. The writing was amazing and I really felt like I was there, and I’m not expecting a story all wrapped up with a bow on top however I just wish I knew more. Hazen where are you? What took place to lead to the choices you made? Thad what will you do now?

I guess it’s good in some ways it left me wondering because I have thought about this book for many days since finishing.

Another great book by Wink. I enjoyed his first novel, and this one was even better. A great story with vivid characters.

Callan Wink introduces his reader to a pair of brothers, Thad and Hazen, in his novel Beartooth—devoted to each other yet unable to find their feet after the death of their father. The pair live a hard-scrabble existence, relying on the natural bounty of the Montana wilderness to eek out a slightly-less-than-sufficient living logging and poaching.

Between a rapidly approaching winter, a roof that springs new leaks with every rainfall, and mounting medical bills the brothers are first offered, then ultimately pressed into a dangerous, high-stakes, high-value scheme. The heist moves their already sketchy poaching fully onto Yellowstone park land and into felony territory. The older and more level-headed Thad devises a plan that lays the best path for success. Between grizzlies and tipped-off park rangers, things don’t go as planned. The brothers are forced to improvise and ultimately set themselves at odds with a local, eccentric profiteer.

At this point in the novel the plot shifts in an unexpected way. The action slows, though the intrigue remains thick. Thad and Hazen’s lives begin to be shaped less by their grief and more by their changing roles and the appearance of their complicated mother. What begins as an action-filled thriller becomes a look into the bumpy, imperfect evolution of an unconventional family.

Beartooth was an enjoyable read and paced to prevent my setting it down. The timeline felt a little messy at times and if you require no loose ends, you may feel the story unfinished. However, Wink manages to bring his main character’s arcs to satisfying ends in ways unforeseen at the beginning of the novel.

Between a mesmerizing, wild setting, compelling action and complex characters, Beartooth is worth your time. Thank you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for access to this advance digital copy.

4.5 stars
When hard times fall upon two brothers in rural Montana, they must put everything on the line in an effort to find a brighter future.

Beartooth is fast-paced and I couldn’t put it down. I was engaged and eager to see how all of the different situations would resolve. I would read a sequel in a heartbeat! Lastly, it is one of the most beautifully descriptive books I’ve ever read. It made me want to pack up everything I own and move to a remote patch of land.

“In the fall, the red and gold and copper of the streamside alders and cottonwoods and willows were reflected in the spawning colors of the brown trout. It was almost enough to instill some sort of faith in a creator, some sort of guiding hand, an artist with a limited palette.”

Thank you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the ARC of this book! I’m landing on a 4.75 star rating rounded up. Beartooth was basically everything I could have wanted in a gritty backcountry tale. The imagery in this book is absolutely stellar. Very atmospheric and visceral without being over the top. I felt like I was stomping around the damp leaves and twigs right alongside Thad and Hazen. In some ways, this book was really relaxing. There was a somber sort of energy throughout the story that was almost meditative. The quiet exploration of characters amidst the backdrop of a beautiful and brutal land was captivating and also quite realistic. I did feel pretty stressed for our boys at times! The looming financial situation combined with one of the more unique heist plots I’ve come across definitely drives the story forward. I’m excited to read more from Callan Wink.

This was my first ever ARC - thanks NetGalley, S&G, and Callan Wink! :)

I enjoyed this book so much. I've never spent any time out west, but I've never been transported to a place so vividly as I was while reading this - Wink's descriptive imagery is truly breathtaking. (I also never thought I would be so intrigued to read about the inner organs of a bear being cut away and pulled at by hand, but here we are.)

I loved the rawness of Thad and Hazen's sibling dynamic and appreciated the complexity of their stories respectively and together as brothers. I did think the ending conflict was a bit abrupt, and I selfishly wanted a better conclusion, but I can also accept that it was realistic and that we don't always get a satisfying answer to strange & traumatic things that happen in real life. That life just... goes on.

All in all it made me want to move out to the mountains and live off the grid in the tranquility of nature (minus the federal crimes and bear guts).

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6612995812