Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

17 reviews

olivebleu's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Violence, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Cursing, Blood, Gore, Animal death, Alcohol, Body horror, Rape, Death, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

wolfinthewillows's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Animal death

Moderate: Death of parent and Drug abuse

kponturo's review

challenging dark mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Murder, Violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Gore, and Grief

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Suicide

aliciaofalaska's review

dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Murder

bebidocrimes's review

emotional mysterious 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

3.0

Pushed through to finish this after they dropped the unexpected pregnancy, and I can kinda see where it fits in the story but overall felt like an afterthought. The plotline of the wolves scaring the farmers was a fine plot on its own, and even the murder mystery. I just don't think the romance (?) really added anything because I don't think Inti can ever fully trust Duncan after everything that happened in her life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Rape, Blood, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence

alexisgarcia's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

i absolutely loved this. i had no idea what to expect going in and i think that is the best way to read this. the sisters' relationship was amazing, the plot was well-rounded and fulfilled, and the ending was perfect. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Abortion, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

voxvenati's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

Really beautiful book about nature and conservation and people. I cried several times during the book, and very much enjoyed the narrator’s reading of the novel. It does start a little slow, but it picks up in the second half. 

Please read through the trigger warnings before starting if you’re at all concerned, though, because there are some really heavy topics involving DV and death.

Even without the underlying murder mystery surrounding things, this book was engaging and really lovely. In fact, Aggie being the murderer might have been the one storyline that I wasn’t the biggest fan of, and didn’t feel 100% earned to me. This is probably the reason it’s not a full 5 star. 

I love how much time is spent in nature, with the wolves, and talking about conservation. The piece about starting small in your own backyard was just so sweet. 

I normally hate timeline switching, but it was so fluid and easy in this book that it didn’t feel off at all. Very natural progression.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Rape, Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Alcohol, and Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent, Suicide, Abortion, and Child abuse

jextown's review against another edition

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. 

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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.

magdalenak02's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Murder

pollyhall's review

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