MixedThe Washington Independent Review of BooksAs a narrator, rendering the story in the present tense, Esch is observant, poetic and often given to reminiscing about her mother who died in childbirth … For the most part, Ward’s lyricism is fresh and sharp, but on some occasions it risks stalling the narrative in a mishmash of simile that undermines rather than strengthens the voice … On the other hand, when the story turns dramatic the reader is swept up in the tense rawness of its action. There are scenes of dog fights, for instance, in which the reader is absorbed even while being repulsed by the descriptions of bared teeth and tearing flesh. Likewise, in the climatic scene in which the hurricane’s winds and waters threaten the characters, the language is efficient and the action is present.