Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

143 reviews

jextown's review

3.0

Conflicted. I really liked the writing of this book, the way the story was told and unfolded. I liked that there were interesting and kind of dreamlike sequences, but I also struggled with the trauma, the brutality of that flashback with her sister was too much, I really had to steady myself, disconnect my emotions best I could. I really enjoyed the twins’ father and mother, just thought they were unique characters. It was a little messy all around but I enjoyed that part too. I found everything with the wolves interesting and as controversial as it may be I did like the conclusion to the murder mystery. I didn’t much care for the romantic relationship in the book at all, thought that dude kinda sucked tbh. But I can also appreciate that he was a flawed person, not all bad definitely not all good. I appreciated the bond of sisters but upon reflection I don’t really like the way Aggie was handled, even if I did enjoy the intrigue of wondering what was going on with her throughout the book. Like I said, conflicted. I liked it and didn’t and would be careful of who I recommend this to. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Misogyny, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Dementia, Ableism, Alcoholism, and Suicide

This book includes an intense flashback to a horrific and brutal sexual assault which results in one of the primary characters being a mute, shell of a person unable to care for herself for much of this book.

lindsayerin's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Grief, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Gore, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Murder, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Medical content

archaicrobin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Inti loves her wolves and her sister and not much else until she begins a project in the Scottish Highlands to re-forest the area by introducing wolves. Two stories are going at once as Inti alternates between the present time, dealing with angry locals and the past about her sister’s abusive husband and the terror he caused them both. 

This was beautifully written and powerful. I loved this one, even when I had to put it down because it can be a lot.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Rape, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders

mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Murder, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Grief

Minor: Mental illness and Death of parent

aliyachaudhry's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Murder, Misogyny, Stalking, Sexism, Infertility, Animal death, Cursing, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol and Vomit

Minor: Drug abuse

mellowreading's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent

steph_s's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Death

Moderate: Gore, Pregnancy, Rape, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Murder

taliastorm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Violence, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Vomit, Animal death, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, and Gore

Minor: Infidelity and Infertility

mburdi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Animal death, Sexual violence, Rape, Mental illness, and Pregnancy

Child endangerment

katiesmash's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Animal death, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Medical trauma