Book Review: Dusk by Robbie Arnott

Title: Dusk by Robbie Arnott

Publication Date: 8th October 2024

Publisher: Picador Australia

RRP: $34.99

Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis:

In the distant highlands, a puma named Dusk is killing shepherds. Down in the lowlands, twins Iris and Floyd are out of work, money and friends. When they hear that a bounty has been placed on Dusk, they reluctantly decide to join the hunt. As they journey up into this wild, haunted country, they discover there's far more to the land and people of the highlands than they imagined. And as they close in on their prey, they're forced to reckon with conflicts both ancient and deeply personal.

Review:

This book was nothing short of amazing. I’m sitting here at 12:53 am just pondering about the whole book while my worries of the world (and work starting at 7 am tomorrow) are quietly being swept under the carpet to make room for my thoughts 🥲

I don’t think I can quite write a coherent review on this lyrical and poetic story. It’s nothing like I’ve ever read before - both in terms of plot and narrative. Robbie Arnott writes soft and beautiful prose while still hitting the mark with unflinching honesty. I was engrossed the whole length of the book. The luscious flora and fauna descriptions in this also made it the perfect autumn book to curl up with in the late chilly nights of October. It’s a beautiful and sad and (at times) dark story, but in itself is a quiet tale of a pair of twins trying to find a place to belong. The brutality of the story coupled with the gentle writing is something so otherworldly. This is definitely a book that will stick with readers for a very long time.

The story will take you on a journey of loss and love. I might be biased, but I love anything with twins in it! I’m a twin myself, so the palpable connection and closeness between Iris and Floyd makes my heart melt a little every time. Robbie Arnott completely nailed their relationship, which at its core reveal the fierce protectiveness both siblings possess for one another, even through the toughest circumstances. I could not have related to this more.

In a word, this book is enthralling. I’ll be recommending this book for days and months and years to come.

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan for sending over an ARC of my new favorite book 🤍