This was a heartfelt and raw novel, unlike anything I've ever read or listened to before.

"Jack" is a great character in that we can see his development and growth in self-believe as the book goes on. I really felt for him and his isolation at the beginning, as no one should ever be ostracised due to their sexuality. I will say the sex scenes were more graphic than I anticipated, but no more than the romantasies I've been reading lately and they added to the true grit feel of the story.

I think this book's biggest strength is its authenticity; I could tell throughout that this story comes from a personal place and isn't queer bating as some LGBTQIA+ media seems to be. I think it's the perfect book to read for Pride month for this reason.

Barton Welch did a fantastic narration and really captured Guacamo's narrative. I was hooked throughout, despite contemporary not being a genre I usually gravitate towards.

Overall, a very important read and one that I'm happy to have read. Thank you to Netgalley and W.F. Howes for the review copy audiobook.

So much about how you review a book like “King of Dirt” will depend on how you see its main character Giacomo Brolo… aka Jack. You see this whole book is told from Jack’s point of view, through Jack’s language and through Jack’s own mind’s eye. He is a character who, at the start of this book, is in a really dark place. He drinks heavily, takes drugs and gets into fights. He hates himself both physically and internally. He is so repulsed by his homosexuality that he has to hurt himself when he succumbs to temptation. He has no friends and cares about hardly anything outside his beloved Ute. He is going nowhere in life, except towards an early grave. And this self-destructive path surrounds him so tightly that he has made himself into an island, so no one can reach him. Unable to voice his pain and what he needs, he lashes out, hurting himself and those around him. But beneath all of that is a beautifully innocent light. Someone desperately in need of love and acceptance. Someone who thinks he has nothing to give but would give it all if given the chance. And that’s the beauty that Holden Sheppard has managed to draw out of this intense book.

Very much like his previous book “Invisible Boys” this is a book that comes from a deeply emotional place. It casts its eye on the darker corner of masculinity and shows us what such toxicity can do. Bigotry and prejudice seem to be the narrative currency for many of the characters, and that can make for a hard read. But there is something about Jack’s voice that makes this book endearing. You want to read on. You’re desperate to see some change for the better. You want to see his life improve.

Whenever I pick up a Holden Sheppard book I know I’m not going to be in for a cosy, comfort read. He won’t be describing the beauty in Australia or the romantic side of life. He shows us some of the grittier parts of life. A picture of life that is as much from his imagination as it is from his own experience. He brings an honesty to his books that very few authors are brave enough to do. After all, if a book is too emotionally dark it’s going to affect its sale. You’re unlikely to find those books on many readers’ TBR lists. But ignore this book at your peril. Now, it’s a tough read to be sure. But aren’t some of the toughest journeys some of the most rewarding. And this book is definitely that. Part of me wishes Holden Sheppard would write more books, or at least publish more than one every couple of years. But I’m not sure my nerves could cope. That said, I would always choose quality over quantity any day of the week. And on that count, this book does not disappoint.

One of the other things that made this book such an incredible experience for me was when I heard the audio version of it. Hearing Holden Sheppard’s words spoken by Barton Welch brought this book to life in ways my feeble British imagination couldn’t do. He was incredible at capturing all the different Australian colloquialisms and making them flow effortlessly into my understanding. Even his Italian dialect had a natural feel to it. But it was the emotion that he brought to the book that really lifted it beyond a normal reading experience. His voice married perfectly with Holden’s words making the whole experience much more immersive. So whether you pick up the book itself or it’s audio sibling, you will not be disappointed as this is a book that will stay in your heart for a very long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fabulous Australian novel - I have always loved Holden's writing. This will definitely be aimed for a targeted range of adult readers as it quite graphic in its nature, especially in regards to the sex scenes and descriptors but I am have really enjoyed it nevertheless.

King of Dirt is an absolute triumph. I barely blinked from beginning to end. It’s all story, all substance, all heart. I laughed hard, I shed a few tears I was consumed with rage and I rooted for Giacomo all the way through. There were moments I wanted to throw fists on his behalf, moments I wanted to drag him out of his family and show him unconditional love. The ending was brilliant, exactly what I wanted to happen! It’s really hard not to spoiler this story 🤔

Trigger warnings apply for homophobia, racism, self harm and suicide and coarse language throughout.

The narration was excellent.

Huge thanks to Wavesound from W F Howes LTD and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧