The Great Work is unlike anything I’ve ever read—a striking mix of genres that blends frontier grit with alchemy, philosophy, and deeply human struggles. Sheldon Costa weaves a story that is both imaginative and haunting, delivering a message that comes through with clarity while never overshadowing the characters themselves.

The relationships between the characters and the battles they face, both external and internal, kept me turning pages. I especially loved the animal presence in the novel—Abe the mule was an absolute delight and brought warmth to an otherwise dark and often brutal world.

That said, a word of caution: this book does not shy away from gore, and there are moments of animal cruelty that may be difficult for sensitive readers, particularly horse lovers.

Thematically, The Great Work explores heavy topics such as the hardships of frontier life, the mysteries of alchemy, and the shadows of depression, suicide, and death. It’s a challenging but rewarding read—one that lingers long after the final page.

I would gladly read more from this author in a heartbeat. Costa has created something rare and powerful, and I can’t wait to see what he writes next.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A character study in grief masquerading as a mythical hunt for a "dragon" (giant salamander), The Great Work highlights how difficult it can be to let go. The main character, Gentle, is trying to deal with the loss of his close friend through hunting down the animal he is convinced is the key to bringing Liam back and explores the landscape of the American West as the frontier era comes to a close. The spooky natural landscape and haunting moments reminded of Annihilation by Vandermeer in the best way. The fact that this was a debut author blew me away, it is so well done and I look forward to what he comes up with next.

A haunting read set in the lush, magical wilderness of the American West that's not for the faint of heart. This book wasn't at all what I expected, and while it's not one that I would recommend to every reader, the writing is beautiful and heartbreaking.

The main character Gentle was realistic in his deep grief over the lost of his close friend and in his myriad of faults, and I enjoyed how his relationship to his nephew Kit slowly evolved throughout the story. Both characters felt tragic in different ways, and yet they remained hopeful to the end.

This is not an easy or uplifting read, but it's the kind that you'll be thinking about long after you finish. Includes themes of violence, suicide, and drug use.

Costa’s debut novel is a little bit Steinbeck in Washington, a little bit As I Lay Dying in the Olympic peninsula, a little bit Annie Proulx in the Pacific northwest. The Great Work is about a grizzled alchemist and his nephew tracking a strange creature through the Washington wilderness near the end of the nineteenth century. It’s dark and moody, but also grounded and human. There’s a very classic sensibility to the novel, by which I mean it’s kind of about everything in the way that the great novels of yore tended to be. But not in an annoying way! In a way that feels so genuine and satisfying that I know it’s going to settle into a corner of my mind and live there forever. Costa has fashioned a world that you can’t help but be sucked into; the kind of world that feels so full and visceral that you’ll find yourself lost in it for hours. I loved this weird, muddy, beautiful book.

One of my favorites this year. This novel covers a lot of ground in 336 pages. It is as historically and emotionally vivid as a Peter Mathiesen novel, except set in the Pacific Northwest, while managing to contain the speculative horror of Victor LaValle and the climate fiction of Paolo Bacigalupi. This book takes place in Washington state shortly after the Civil War, a world in which men are pitting their plans, ideas and visions against the last of the American frontier and making a terrible mess of it. The hubris of American ideals crumbles in the face of the men spouting them. This novel reads as historical fiction but is very of the moment. It does this without losing the authenticity of its setting. It is also genuinely terrifying. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.