Synopsis

I have grown hungry. Grief no longer nourishes me. I will eat the wild.

Whisper your prayers, light your candles, watch your steps, cherish your life, and— most importantly— never let the spirits hear your name.

These were his mother’s rules before she disappeared. And Kazuki followed them, even when his father was ripped apart by a malevolent spirit. When he decides to go in search of his mother, an encounter with a corrupted bear leaves him weak, wounded, and worst of all, tainted.

With her rules and his father’s sword, he ventures north into the unknown. Demons, spirits, and gods all haunt his steps, and the closer he gets to the truth, the further from himself he becomes. His name forgotten.

Can he find his mother, or will the wild consume him?

Quick Review

He Who Ate the Wild is a story of loss and grief, but also of a young warrior trying to understand his place in this Japanese-inspired world.

Full Review

I was introduced to He Who Ate the Wild during the book’s Kickstarter campaign, during which the author G.J. Terral requested my help illustrating a map for the book. I’ve finally gotten around to reading the full story, and what a treat it is to be a fan of something you helped contribute to.

Despite having some knowledge of the setting from when I made the map, I went into He Who Ate the Wild without knowing much about the story. I knew that there was some kind of human-spirit relationship, reminiscent of the film Princess Mononoke, and little else. While that is what I got from it, there’s so much more to this book, and I was left pleasantly surprised.

The story is told through an almost dreamlike first-person narration that fits this story very well. At times, it seems to almost break the fourth wall, as though Ku is telling us the story directly (though as far as I can remember this is never an overt thing, more of a tone, in the way author G.J. Terral writes some parts). As a result, the beginning is somewhat slow. Even during a terrible disaster, the way Terral writes the scene remains contemplative and reflective. The prose is always great in this story, but those opening chapters stand out to me as particularly strong: a beautiful introduction to the character and setting and the spirits that dwell in it.

Speaking of which, those spirits are not just for show. They are obstacles to overcome, nuanced threats and protective guides. Two spirits accompany Ku through most of his journey: the sparrow Susu and the crow Kara. They form a really fun pair, both helping but one is seemingly benevolent and the other… More of an opportunistic character. It’s fun to see them work together and argue back and forth, and the respect that forms between them.

The pace does pick up later. There are several bombastic action scenes, hurried flights across the foothills, and efforts to seek safety or revenge—sometimes both at the same time. Terral continuously finds new ways to make combat in this story interesting, or raise the stakes. There’s something about the abilities and swordsmanship that feels reminiscent of anime: with a deep respect for the source material but with dramatic and devastating flourishes of power.

Though, I do feel like the pace gets a little chaotic at the end. There comes a point at which, to me, the fight scenes feel like they’re getting in the way of the story. Something that gets repeated often is Ku’s desire to find his mother, or what became of her; he also is constantly trying to find himself, both in the spiritual sense and a literal place where he can call home. By the end, none of these issues are really resolved. What we do get in the finale is great, I just felt as though Ku’s original motivations got pushed to the sideline.

I might not be bothered by that if this was the start of a new series, but as far as I understand it, He Who Ate the Wild is intended to be a standalone. That said, if Terral ever wanted to return to Ku’s story, he would have ample room to play. While I don’t need every book I read to be part of a series—I’d actually prefer more standalones—I do feel there’s some untapped potential here.

Now, all that said, I come away loving this book. The prose is gorgeous, the themes of man vs nature are handled incredibly well, and the world feels both unique and alive. Ku’s grief over the loss of his parents and his healing journey are instantly captivating.

I highly recommend He Who Ate the Wild. It’s a beautiful coming of age story with some fun action and a unique setting. This is a delightful journey, and one absolutely worth taking.