Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

9 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.0

I expected more, and I find myself thinking about this book even after finishing it, in the wrongest ways...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Murder

lisahowe27's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This is a multilayered novel that peels back layers of questions around wildlife conservation, human relationships, the beauty of the forest and landscape, and the human condition. Wolves have a mystery to them that draws the reader in. Their strength and beauty can leave a person breathless. But this novel is more than just about them. It is an intertwining story that combines nature and human and how in our world today these two things can no longer be separated.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Blood, Death, Bullying, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Murder, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

kiwico's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Violence, Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Abortion

hefftbundle's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I wasn't sure if I liked this book until the end. It's much darker than I typically enjoy, but by the end, I loved it. It is painful, emotional, hard to read and so well written.

It is an intense story about humanness built around the deep importance of conservation. Learning to trust and grow after extreme trauma is also a centerpiece of this book. 

You will probably guess part of the ending, but it still has elements that will surprise you and make you weep. Again, incredibly well written. Will leave you aching and hopeful. What a wild ride.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Dementia, Gore, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Rape, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Bullying, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Animal death

Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Cursing, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Medical content, Misogyny, and Sexual content

Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Vomit, and Drug use

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.

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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

pollyhall's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? No

3.0

I liked that the main female characters were strong and could take care of themselves. The descriptions of the wolves and the Scottish Highlands were well done. It felt like I was actually observing them.
I could not suspend my disbelief when it came to the Chief of Police because of how he was described.
With all mysteries, you know that there is a twist coming but this one was a total surprise. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Dementia, Excrement, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

laurenmvmills's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, and Violence

midwestchickadee's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Suicide, and Death

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

Minor: Bullying, Dementia, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

keenanmaree's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.75

This book is very beautifully written, and there is really a lot to love in it. It is a a story about humanity and our complicated relationship with nature, each other, and ourselves. McConaghy does a wonderful job of depicting the frustration and rage that comes out of simple misunderstandings, and also out of the sense of helplessness when we are unable to either prevent or correct the evils inflicted on ourselves or our loved ones. 

My lowish rating is due to some purely subjective issues I had with the story. Although I saw the sexual assault coming almost from the beginning of the book, the actual scene was so alarming (I’m sure intentionally so…how could it be anything but horrifying?) that I had to step away from the book for a bit. I also didn’t love that the victim of such a violent assault was transformed into a violent murderer herself. It works narratively, but I think it sends a harmful message about sufferers of ptsd. I am also always a bit turned off by the story device of “hardened woman has a baby and it solves all of her problems and teaches her how to love again.”

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Dementia, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Stalking, and Vomit

Minor: Child death, Infertility, and Suicide