Jagger Eckerman is the work-shy son of a ruthless businessman. Jagger turns whistleblower when he realises the project he’s tied to is ruining the environment. He escapes from the office and the city, but is then hunted down by his employers.
Jagger sells his car, stuffs the cash into a backpack and flees to a cave in the National Park he used to visit with his recently deceased mum. Unbeknown to him, an environmental activist has been using the cave as a lookout spot. When Jagger undresses and races into the surf, she takes his backpack. They hate each other on sight. Without knowing her name, he refers to her as ‘the feral’. She – Nia Moretti – sees his suit as representative of all that is wrong with society. When a hitman is seen around the beach however, the two are forced to escape together.
Jagger wants to reach Queensland, where his money could buy him a new identity. Nia has other pressing concerns. She was waiting at the cave for a man reaching the shore by boat. Jagger’s reflex racist reaction to Tabish – a doctor and asylum seeker – further enrages Nia. She takes Tabish to a safe place, but those hunting Jagger are able to trace them there. They pass through a cyclone-ravaged Gold Coast, where Nia risks her life hanging a protest sign, before finding sanctuary at Nia’s family farm … and where they’re surprised to realise they’re attracted to each other. The final showdown occurs at a lock-in at a mining site, where Jagger makes a selfless decision.
The writing is excellent. This is a thriller with a difference: a fast-paced chase underpinned by an overt environmental warning.
Reviewed by Bob Moore
Read and interview with D M Cameron’s about her book, Beneath the Mother Tree
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Donna M Cameron is an AWGIE nominated radio dramatist, award-winning playwright and short film writer.
Her first novel, Beneath the Mother Tree, (2018) was listed as one of 2018’s top Australian fiction reads by the Adelaide Advertiser, was a finalist in the Screen Queensland/QWC’s Adaptable program and longlisted for the Davitt Awards. The manuscript of her second novel – The Rewilding, won her a 2020 KSP Fellowship, was runner up in a 2020 Writing NSW Award and gained her a 2021 Varuna Fellowship. It will be published by Transit Lounge in March 2024.
(3/5)
The Rewilding by Donna M Cameron is a story of two very different worlds merging. Jagger Eckerman lives in a corporate world, full of deals, hidden agendas and the notion that Money is King. Nia Moretti is an ecological warrior – and then some. On the surface, these two characters couldn’t seem further apart, however Nia’s oddities and secrets draw Jagger in, making him see life from a perspective he had previously lost. This story is a good example of how someone can have a foot in each camp without being fully committed to either.
The intense focus on the environmental issues our world is facing is not usual to this extent in a novel. I often felt that I was reading climate change articles, rather than a fictitious story. I believe Donna M Cameron did this on purpose; attempting to garner interest (and, hopefully, the desire for change) from a different section of the population than who normally takes up the call for environmental protection.
The story was interesting and well-written, however I felt that I was sneakily being “sold to” on the issues of climate change, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
(5/5)
What a fantastic read, I thoroughly enjoyed every page and like a good binge watch on Netflix, I could not put The Rewilding down and devoured it cover to cover in 2 days.
You can’t help but fall in love with the fierce and passionate Nia and her dishevelled and flustered companion Jagger; all the while cheering them on with their fight for justice and the path of love. The climate message is strong and definitely reminds us to acknowledge what’s happening to Mama Earth and how easy it is to be manipulated by the media and society to confirm to materialism and to keep our heads firmly in the sand when it comes to climate change. It was a page turner for sure.
The Rewilding was a light read and easy to follow and I enjoyed it immensely.
(4/5)
Kindly sent to me by Good Reading for review, this is a genre-bending novel set against the backdrop of the very real effects of climate change already being experienced in Australia, which I read as the bushfires burned around me in Victoria. Jagger Eckerman is a rather shallow, weak, lazy young man lacking any ambition or real work ethic who, after realising his live-in girlfriend has targeted him for his apparent wealth, blows the whistle on the corrupt goings-on by his father’s construction firm at which he has been employed, if not really working. Heartbroken, he then runs away and meets a strong-willed, determined eco-warrior activist called Nia. The two make an extremely odd couple on the run as they try to elude armed and desperate drug-dependent men who want to silence Jagger whilst Nia pursues her aim of raising awareness of the need to take effective action against climate change. It was an interesting and thought-provoking book which I would certainly recommend, although the chase element lacked a little credibility, and I found the main protagonists somewhat challenging to empathise with and certainly I didn’t find them very likable.
(4/5)
Jagger and Nia have their own reasons for hiding, but not their own hideouts. Unimpressed with the presence of the other, they each put up with the situation, getting what they can out of it.
In the Rewilding, Donna Cameron takes us on a journey along the East coast of Australia where the pasts of the characters and our shared futures are vividly portrayed. The landscapes in which they find themselves plays a role as big as the main characters and Cameron paints a vivid picture without the use of long, boring descriptions.
Although, at times, the storyline is far-fetched, the characters themselves are not. I feel I know exactly who they are, Jagger, with his naivety and Nia with her convictions.
The Rewilding shows the reader that you can’t judge a book by its cover (which I did – it is the thing I liked least about this book), that everyone has a past, but it is what we do now that will have the greatest influence on our future.
(5/5)
How to describe ‘The Rewilding’? Like no other book I have ever read! ‘The Rewilding’ is a rollercoaster ride through the very complicated and chaotic lives of Jagger and Nia. Equal parts commentary on big business, on the human destruction of the world and a love story to boot. The perfect book for the times in which we are living.
Unputdownable!
(4/5)
A bushfire burns out of control in Central Victoria. Queensland is cleaning up the devastation from Cyclone Kirrily. Extinction Rebellion activists bring Melbourne traffic to a standstill. They block the Westgate Bridge bearing the banners “climate breakdown has begun” and “declare a climate emergency”. This is an uncanny moment when life mirrors the plot of Donna M Cameron’s cli-fi thriller The Rewilding.
The book centres on Nia and Jagger – an unlikely pair thrown together through their need for secrecy while on the run. Nia skirts around the local authorities as she engages in eco terrorism. Jagger is a whistleblower fleeing from the violent consequences of his actions and a toxic relationship. Jagger’s circumstances can, at times, challenge believability but Nia’s strength and unwavering commitment draw the plot together.
Cameron’s latest book is cleverly written, fast paced and profoundly topical. She brings humour to the serious matter of climate emergency through Nia’s jibes and Jagger’s bumbling attempts at bush survival. Throughout the novel the environmental message from Nia is strong, and the suspense and thrill of their combined danger carries the story beyond its depressing premise. This is a compelling and important book.
(3/5)
Thank you to Good Reading and Transit Lounge for an early bird copy of this book to review.
I think I’m in the minority here but I have to say I struggled to get through this one.
This story starts off strong with the excitment of Jagger blowing the whistle on his father’s dodgy business. He is on the run and meets Nia who is hiding some secrets of her own.
They hit the road and this is where the book kind of dragged for me. I really couldn’t see where this story was going. The story picks up the pace again in the last 50 or so pages with an exciting, action packed ending.
Overall this was an ok read.
“The Rewilding” is like stepping into a Netflix series you can’t stop watching. As the story plays out, you just want to keep reading. The characters also have their own personality history that goes well with the storyline. Each and every chapter has an enticing title and just captures what to expect next. I would recommend anyone to try out this new book by Donna M Cameron. Australian story writing at its best.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Part thriller, part love story, part call to humanity. The characters were complex but likeable; the tension between Jagger and Nia kept me going, as I wanted to find out where it was all headed. I loved how Donna wove the stories of Eco warriors and sustainability champions into the story. While only fiction, I loved reading how everyday people are making a difference and fighting back against the damage that we are doing to planet Earth. A great Australian novel and I look forward to reading her future work.
(4/5)
I was hooked from the first chapters of The Rewilding by Donna M Cameron. It follows the accidental meeting of Jagger and Nia both on missions but with seemingly different agendas. There are misunderstandings, car chases, protesting hi-jinks, a cyclone, and interesting characters. As I was reading it I didn’t know how it was going to end with everyone happy.
While one of the main themes of book was the climate emergency and the impeding collapse of society (and this may surprise you) it wasn’t a depressing book. Every impeding disaster mentioned was balanced with a source of hope that people can be good and change is possible. Definitely welcome for someone who can get overwhelmed by the constant negative news about our world.
My only criticism is was the continual disdain Nia had for Jagger even after he demonstrates that he isn’t the “corporate suit” that she had labeled him as, and clearly he knew a bit about the flora and fauna around Sydney as well as contrasting information about the climate emergency. I get that this was her character; she is judgmental of anyone not on her crusade, but it did become wearing.
This book reminded me of Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, another ecological thriller, of which I didn’t see the end coming either.
(3/5)
The story didn’t excite me enough to read the book at every opportunity I had. It’s only now that I’m flicking through it to write this review that I see the complexity in it and questions that could be asked.
Most of the characters are not particularly likeable. Jagger comes across as spoilt and weak. He becomes the whistleblower but then runs away. Does he put his own life more in danger because he runs away rather than taking his evidence to authorities that will help and support him?
Nia is a climate activist; at times the word terrorist is used. She has passion and focus and whilst I think she would abhor my mediocrity I admire her resolve. She appears to be willing to suffer for her beliefs.
The story is about Jagger’s running away and Nia’s activism colliding, and leading ultimately to Jagger finding where he belonged in the world and love with Nia. I would have liked to know more about Nia’s previous love and the baby that she mentions in one of her “solo” pieces. I may have missed explanations in the story, of course.
The Lord of the Rings quote at the beginning: “Where there’s life, there’s hope” – Samwise Gamgee. (This is where I sit).
(3/5)
Donna M Cameron’s book ‘The Rewilding’ was an entertaining, adventurous read that kept me engaged from start to finish.
The female protagonist Nia was an endearing and strong character however the book was let down for me by the shallowness and unbelievability of the main character Jagger. Cameron writes very descriptively about her world but I wish her character development was more thought out.
Cameron is passionate about climate change and has cleverly woven it into the story through a dramatic cat and mouse chase across Australia.
Without giving away the ending, I found it predictable however the story was wrapped up well. I enjoyed reading ‘The Rewilding’ and have given it 3 out of 5 stars.
(3/5)
In ‘The Rewilding’, published by Transit Lounge, I found myself wrestling with mixed feelings. The story kicks off energetically as Jagger exposes his father’s shady dealings, running into Nia, whose mysterious past adds intrigue. However, as their journey progresses, the narrative loses steam, leaving me uncertain of its direction. While some characters felt believable, others, like Jagger, lacked real depth. Additionally, the inevitability of Jagger and Nia’s relationship felt unconvincing and very cringe. Stylistically some of the writing felt repetitive such as repeated comparisons to “insert famous artist painting” and the excerpts from Nia were a bit lost and didn’t add much for me. Despite its adventurous premise and the author’s passion for environmental issues, the story’s execution fell short.
Easy-breezy page-turner of a book! The entirety of the plot arc and character development could have easily spread to double the length of the book, but Donna does not overindulge in linguistic flourishes or bog down the reader with overly detailed descriptions. The resulting writing feels light and effortless, and together with the pace of the action, you’re drawn into the events and don’t want to put the book down. Easily consumed over a weekend away, The Rewilding is a far cry from pulp fiction – thoughtful, yet not preachy, it really takes the reader on a journey. However, bringing the plot to its conclusion within such short length of time (when did we start treating 300-page books as short?), it also feels all a bit too perfect, all lose ends tied, all questions answered, the hero emerges almost as if re-born, definitely “Rewilded”.
(3/5)
I started out really liking the main character and his situation, so well written and easy to empathises with. Unfortunately, once Nia is brought into it, I found it difficult to have any feeling for that character and she slowed the pace right down. If the writer intended for the reader to dislike the character of Nia throughout the whole book, then she certainly achieved this. The ‘bad guys’ in the book are well portrayed and they were brought to life nicely.
I found it difficult to be drawn into the situations they got themselves into and ended up not really caring what happened to them. Perhaps the book might be suited for people who are extremely environmentally conscious or a younger demographic than this 58-year-old reader.
(4/5)
Jagger Eccerman is on the run from his father and boss, his sidekick Ed, and his dangerous son. They are killers. He flees to the safety of a cave he shared with his mother in his childhood. They talked about the plants and nature. He didn’t think the cave would be his sanctuary for long but finding a wild and feral girl, Nia, living there, leaves him disorientated.
Nia hates him at first sight. He’s a suit and the money he offers her just goes to prove he’s a capitalist pig. When drones circle overhead, Jagger discovers that he is close to being dragged back to face the company fraud, and Ed has used him as the scapegoat. The other guy Nia brings into the cave doesn’t speak, he’s as jumpy as Jagger. They all flee in Nia’s eco-fuel bomb of a car. She drives like a maniac and takes him into the dangerous world of Rebellion fighters.
When Jagger meets Nia’s family he learns more about her and himself. Will they escape the bikers who are roughies from the mining company? If they do, are they able to escape from the clutches of Ed and his maniac son? Can they overcome differences and be allies, friends, and lovers?
(5/5)
I thoroughly enjoyed The Rewilding by Donna Cameron. This solarpunk novel takes two characters, different in every way possible, and throws them together in a multi-layered story that is fast-paced, both fun and serious, and always engaging, all the while asking serious questions about climate change and what we’re willing to do to slow the process.
When city-bred whistle-blower Jagger (‘the suit’) runs to escape his father’s henchmen and hides in a cave near Sydney, he finds it already occupied by Nia (‘the feral’), a young climate action warrior willing to die in her attempt to save the world from climate change. Though neither Jagger nor Nia is particularly likeable at the beginning of the book, I grew to like them as the story develops, thanks to Cameron’s skill at creating believable characters that are complex, human, and grappling with finding their own values.
Unlike dystopian novels, this climate change story is full of hope. The blurb describes it as an exhilarating and unforgettable love song for our world and so it is. Cameron’s ecological knowledge is impressive, her meticulous research worn lightly, and her love of nature evident in her beautiful, lyrical use of language.
I usually decide whether to keep a book or pass it on by thinking on whether I’ll want to re-read it in the near future – The Rewilding is one that will definitely find a permanent spot on my shelves.
With thanks to Transit Lounge and Good Reading Magazine for this copy.
(4/5)
I devoured this topical, fast-paced, ‘hope punk’, ecological love letter to our planet. I thoroughly enjoyed the short chapters and interesting characters in this thought-provoking story. From the beginning, Jagger ‘the suit’ and Nia ‘the feral’ had values and lifestyle that clashed; although the story progresses with moments of hilarity, adrenaline-pumping cat-and-mouse adventure, along with some unlikely romance. There are many important ecological messages in this novel, without it being overpowering or didactic. It provides hope that we can all make positive changes for the benefit of our planet and future generations.
I also appreciate the uplifting roadtrip playlist, as an added extra to the storyline!
(3/5)
The Rewilding’ is a thrilling story about Jagger’s adventure in the wild after being betrayed. Meeting Nia, an activist, adds a cool twist. It’s full of excitement, and I found Jagger’s struggles easy to relate to. Nia’s mystery keeps things interesting, and the romance part adds a nice touch. Though it was a little slow at times, I still found the book interesting. Overall, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Rewilding’.
(4/5)
Donna M Cameron’s “The Rewilding” offers a compelling narrative that captivates readers from the very beginning. Cameron skilfully weaves together elements of suspense, romance, and social commentary, creating a story that resonates deeply with its audience.
One of the book’s standout features is its ability to establish a strong emotional connection between the reader and the protagonist, particularly the whistleblower whose journey forms the crux of the narrative. Through Cameron’s deft storytelling, readers are drawn into an unconventional love story intertwined with themes of fear and survival, keeping them eagerly turning the pages to discover what unfolds next.
For those seeking a captivating read that seamlessly blends intrigue, romance, and social commentary, “The Rewilding” is a must-read. Cameron’s masterful storytelling will keep readers engrossed from beginning to end, making it a book that is not be missed.
(4/5)
The first thing which struck me about The Rewilding is the author’s love of nature – you can sense it through Donna M Cameron’s lush descriptions. It reminds me of the natural beauty that is always there.
The Rewilding is a multi-layered novel with multi-layered main characters. Jagger is the underestimated younger son of a wealthy family – working halfheartedly in the family business, left out of decision-making and not really fitting in. His life is put in danger after he becomes a whistleblower. The Machiavellian relationships within his family reminds me of the show Succession. While he can seem annoyingly weak, you’ve got to appreciate his sensitivity and desire to understand life.
While Jagger is on the run, he tries to hide in a cave in a park not far from Sydney. There he meets Nia, an ecowarrior hiding for reasons of her own. While she may initially sound overly judgmental and righteous, she cares deeply about nature and people. Nia gets tangled up in Jagger’s plight, and they head towards Queensland on a mutually beneficial road trip.
The Rewilding weaves a fast-paced thriller with an enemies-to-lovers romance, as Jagger and Nia learn more about each other. Nia’s mission adds an extra layer of adventure to this story; and the underlying themes around climate disaster invite deeper thought about sustainable action. This story truly has something for everyone.
(5/5)
I know there’s an old adage about not judging a book by its cover, but this is yet another cover that got me excited from the first release of the image by Peter Lo.
I was immediately hooked by a fast paced opening, heart in your throat action and a little heartbreak. So many questions; which only made me turn the pages faster and faster. I may have been late for work one day because I had to finish the chapter!
With such beautiful descriptions of the Australian bush; breathing in the eucalyptus of childhood dreams, the writing is peppered with exquisite writing. I had so many moments of sitting there and just turning the words over in my mind, thinking about how beautifully they were crafted.
The plot is hugely relevant to our current climate change issues, it is a wonderful mystery that also brings you in to a surprising love story.
Donna M Cameron is a master at stories of the Australian landscape, making it a character unto itself.