Clearly the publishing houses are trying to tell us something, otherwise why did we get two quiet historical novels about near-abandoned islands this spring? I kid, I kid. Whale Fall is a succinct but impactful coming-of-age novel set on a fictional Welsh island on the heels of WWII. A beached whale found on the shore serves as a perilous omen, signaling a metaphoric sea change that may well upend the locals' relationship to the small enclave they call home. This is a stark and atmospheric novel, slow-moving but enthralling; strange at times, but always grounded. The titular whale is really just a small piece in play: ultimately, Whale Fall is a well-crafted novel about living on the brink of a changing world and about colonialism; about trying to preserve one country while also wondering about life in another one; and who we could become if only we could leave everything behind.